Reaction mixed on Google Print beta

Even Google is blogging about the launch today of its controversial print program.

Ten months ago, the search giant announced that it planned to scan, digitize and make searchable the collections of five of the largest libraries in the world. And despite the surrounding controversy--including lawsuits from authors and publishers over copyright concerns-- the beta of Google Print is now up and running.

Google said the beta reflects the first phase of the program, and is limited to "public domain" works that don't currently have copyright protection. But the launch has got bloggers keying away--some with joy over the idea of a virtual library, some disappointed in the way Google made publishers "opt-out" instead of "opting-in" to the program.

Others had fun playing around with the search tool. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Brian Chin liked seeing "little notes people scribbled in the margins of the scanned books" which "will now be preserved for posterity in digital form."

Blog community response:

"Instead of welcoming Google's efforts as a sure-fire way to increase revenues and readership alike, the Guild has claimed that Google Print is a 'massive copyright infringement.' Given Google's success in all things search and their ambition to do more and do it better, it is likely that Google Print will lead to a new era in information access...if the Authors Guild will let them."
--Who Loves Appetizers?

"I've been waiting, no, salivating for the release of the Google Print beta, and it has finally come. This will likely be the world's largest virtual library and will contain text and content that many of us have never before had access to."
--Butler Blog

"Rather than fighting, (publishing houses) might be better served accepting this new way of doing things, and evolving into something new that makes the most of the brave new world. The Internet, online access, and the drive for transparent access to information aren't going to go away any time soon. I am not sold on the idea that Google are the best people to be in charge of this...But it is being done, right here and right now, and hiding heads like so many ostriches really isn't the solution, nor is trying to freeze progress in its tracks."
--Bright Meadow

"Clever spin doctoring has the publishers looking like bad guys and Google with puppy dog eyes going 'But all we wanted to do is help people find any information they wanted and the band publishing guys are stopping us. (pout)'...Google are not doing this to be altruistic, they're doing this to make money, off new content they don't own and that is NOT in the public domain."
--Damien Mulley's Blog

"Like the innovation of the printing press revolutionized the church with Martin Luther's 95 thesis, this would offer the world, especially to remote places, access to knowledge that is only accessible to the privileged. This is the future to the way future generations will obtain information."
--Nelson's Studio